Phases

Organizations move through various phases of assessment maturity
depending on their needs. At each phase, factors such as the number of
assessments, the stakes of assessments, the quality and effeciences
required drive them to the appropriate phase.

For organizations that develop or deliver just a few assessments, it may
not be necessary or desirable to progress through all of the phases. For
others – those running many assessments and requiring high-stakes
testing – the goal should be to have an assessment program that aligns
fully with organizational goals and is integral to the success of the
organization.

The four phases of the Assessment Maturity can be described as follows:

Ad hoc

In this first phase, the organization relies on whoever has the vision
and energy to champion the assessment process. There are few, if any
processes in place to ensure a consistent, reliable approach to
assessments and reports. More information on AMM phase 1

Managed

In this phase, an organization develops a playbook that people can
follow, so they are less reliant on the knowledge and energy of a
project champion. For organizations running few assessments, staying in
this phase could be sufficient. However, organizations that utilize many
assessments should aim to move into stages three and four in order to
achieve their goals. Drivers for this transition include the need for
defensible assessments and the planning of additional assessment
projects.

Refined

Here, the organization’s strategy requires the support of numerous
assessments, many of which are high-stakes. The organization might be
driven out of this phase and into the next one by the desire to measure
customer satisfaction at certain intervals and/or to be sure the
employees are qualified for certain roles. As assessments become
enablers for business goals, the organization begins working toward
Phase 4.

Aligned

Here, processes yield high quality and are aligned with strategic goals.
The organization reaches for this goal in an effort to institute
efficient systems that reduce costs. The organization depends on timely
and trustable assessment results.